After weeks of silence, Minnesota United FC announced on Wednesday the hire of a critical figure to aid the team’s offseason transition to MLS. Amos Magee, who played over a decade for the Minnesota Thunder, then coached the team from 2006 to 2008, has been named director of player personnel. In this position, Magee will work towards building United’s MLS roster and establishing a reserve team, academy, and scouting network.

Magee is a Saint Paul native who attended St. Paul Academy before leaving the state for college. But Magee was drawn back home by soccer, joining the Minnesota Thunder when it was a semi-pro team in 1992. He also holds a masters degree in public policy from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School. Magee played nine full seasons with the Thunder, becoming the team’s all time top scorer. He was also loaned to MLS clubs for three seasons.

After his playing career ended, Magee joined the Thunder technical staff and took over as head coach in 2006 after Buzz Lagos retired. Magee led the Thunder for three seasons, before his career in management took him to an assistant coaching position in Portland, where he accompanied the club to MLS, then to D.C., where he again worked as an assistant.

“Leaving D.C. United was a really difficult decision based on how much we accomplished together,” said Magee. “I’ve truly enjoyed my time at my previous clubs, but in my mind and in my family’s mind, we always wanted to come back home to Minnesota.”

There will be little time for Magee to settle into his job. Already this week, Minnesota’s current NASL players are set to meet with Lagos to discuss their future in the year ahead. It’s uncertain whether Magee has already given input on these decisions, but he will certainly be heavily involved in the decision making from here on out. The MLS expansion draft is also drawing near, and Magee’s expertise on current MLS players will be highly valuable.

FiftyFive.One will have an interview with Amos Magee on his new role tomorrow.